What are the entry qualifications?

Applicant to the MSc/MA in Interactive Media must hold at least a 2.2 honours primary degree in any subject. In exceptional circumstances a recognition of prior education based on personal experience and quality of the portfolio. Applicants who are not native speaker should also meet english requirements (see english language issues).

What is a portfolio of Work?

A portfolio is a collection of pieces of your own work that you feel demonstrates your creative ability, technical and artistic skills. This can be artwork, websites, CD/CDROM, software, writing, etc. It will be used to assess the skills of the applicants and will inform the interview (see interview).

Is there a deadline for applying?

The closing date for receipt of completed application forms for this programme is July. We however accept late applications if we still have places available in the programme. Term starts in September each year.

What is the maximun number of students that can be accepted to the programme?

We normally accept 20 students per year.

What is the purpose of the interview?

All applicants are interviewed and also given the opportunity to ask questions. The interview normally takes 20-30 minutes, and includes review of the applicant’s portfolio. The purpose is to assess the quality of the candidate and whether he/she is a good fit for the programme.

What is the course structure?

The MSc/MA in Interactive Media is a full-time, very intensive, 12 month course (it awards 90 ECTS credits). The autumn term starts in September, the spring term starts in January. In the first two terms, student have modules to attend (core and elective ones). During the summer students are required to complete a substantial work in Interactive Media and submit a demonstration and dissertation for examination. Please see Course Outline for more information.

How are examinations organised?

Examination of each module/course takes place at the end of each semester. Some modules/courses may not use written examination, instead they may require students to submit course work throughout a semester. The final dissertation project is examined by an Examination Board, including External Examiners. Students give a short presentation of their work, followed by questions-and-answers and demonstration of their interactive media project.

What is the DAWN exhibition?

After the examination, the students exhibit their dissertation projects to the public. This is an annual exhibition, Digital Arts Week Now.

What facilities and resources are available for the students?

Students have exclusive access to a purpose-built computer laboratory with one computer workstation per student. Each workstation has a full suite of interactive media software installed, including software from Adobe, Microsoft, Apple and a number of Open Source packages.

Students have access to a shared pool of high quality digital cameras, video cameras, portable digital sound recording equipment and microphones.

Students have their own dedicated classroom with computers, a design studio for design activities, and a prototyping lab for prototyping activities. Students also have shared access to a state-of-the-art digital recording studio, including a live room, composers suite and postprocessing room.

See Facilities for more information.

What are the possible careers after this course?

This course aims to help redress the serious and growing shortfall in the number of informatics graduates emerging from the third-level sector. This shortfall is seriously inhibiting the development of the Irish multimedia industry. As well as increasing the number of graduates, it is highly desirable to diversify the specializations involved, if we are to compete internationally. Interactive Media is becoming ever more relevant with the rapid convergence of media and computer technologies. The developing digital technologies are re-shaping the economic landscape and creating new risks and opportunities in fields such as traditional media, computer and telecommunication industries. This is a rapidly emerging and hugely important sphere of activity with significant economic impact in the developing information society. The most significant consequence of this is not the replacement of one technology with another, but the totally new possibilities that arise from the ‘programmability’, ‘interactivity’, and ‘interoperability’ of new digital systems. New forms of technology – virtual and augmented reality, multimedia, ubiquitous, pervasive and tangible computing, interactive arts, mobile computing, social network, Internet of things – provide new possibilities for services in many areas, including education, entertainment, work, medicine and the arts.

Our past students have:

- found jobs in large corporations like Facebook, Microsoft, Google, IBM, SAP, Disney Multimedia, and Logitec;

- created their own start-up and business (in the area of new media, web design, online marketing and services, video and photography, apps for smart phones and tablets);

- found jobs in Dublin and London (new media agencies);

- stayed in the academia/education field and become either PhD candidate or educators.

What are the language requirements?

Master of Art or Master of Science?

Students can either study for a Master of Art or a Master of Science degree. What determines if it is an M.A. or M.Sc. is the nature of the student’s dissertation project, the domain it is in and the research methods used. For example of past projects, see the DAWN web sites. Projects range from interactive art to sophisticated algorithms for processing audio, video and animation, from tangible computing to mobile apps.

How much are the fees?

Are scholarships available?

1. EU Students
The Science and Engineering Faculty is pleased to announce a taught postgraduate programme funding. The value of each scholarship is €2,000. The successful candidates will receive the scholarship in the form of a reduced fee. The Scholarships will be allocated by the faculties on the basis of financial need and personal statement from the applicants. For information please check: www.ul.ie/graduateschool/scholarship-funding

Looking for additional funding?
Postgrad Solutions now offer 15 bursaries across a number of subject areas. Click here to apply

2. International Non-EU Students
A number of generous scholarships are available to full-time non-EU postgraduate students in the Faculty of Science and Engineering for 2012/13. Students do not apply for the scholarship separately , once they apply for the Masters in Interactive Media programme they will automatically be considered for scholarship. Further details are available here. For further information please contact Aoife Mathews in the International Education Division.

Can I defer my place on this programme?

If you wish to defer your place on a programme you need to request same from the postgraduate admissions office in writing. The Course Director may decide to grant you a deferral. If you are offered a deferral, the Postgraduate Admissions Office will communicate this to you in writing. In January of the following year, you will receive an offer letter again for your programme. You do not need to re-apply online again. If you are not granted a deferral, you will need to re-apply again online for the following academic year.

How do I accept my place on a programme?

To accept a place on a programme you will be required to pay an acceptance deposit. You will receive a course acceptance form in the mail with your offer letter giving details on how to accept your place on the programme.

I have not finished my degree yet, can I still apply?

Yes, you can still apply for a taught postgradaute programme even if you have not completed your degree. However, if offered a place on the programme, the offer will be on condition that you meet the entry and language requirements for the programme. You may not enrol on a programme unless all entry and language requirements have been met before the commencement of the programme.